Anchorage of toilet fixtures



Patented Apr. 17,951

UNITED STATES PATNT; OFFICE 4 2,549,357 ANCHORAGE F TOILET FIXTURES I Carmine J. Angelone, Orange, N. J. Application August 6, 194 8, Serial No. 42,781"

This invention relates to toilet fixtures, and

particularly to the anchorage of such a fixture in proper alignment with the outflow pipe, when such outflow pipe is disposed with its upper end substantially in the plane of the floor constituting the supporting structure for such fixture.

In the art at the present time it is customary to provide a circular flange as a separate element for performing two functions: (1) the fixation of the toilet base to the supporting floor, and (2) the suspension and positioning of the upper section of the outflow pipe. This circular flange has usually been made with an inner portion having a beveled upper surface to receive the rim or sealing elements provided on the upper edge of the outflow pipe, and an outer portion with alternating drilled holes and arcuate slots; the drilled holes being provided to receive anchoring bolts passing through the floor supportsand secured thereto, and the arcuate slots being provided to permit angular shift of the fixture-retaining bolts which connect and hold the toilet base to the aforesaid circular flange-such angular shifting being frequently necessary in order to achieve alignment with the bolt-receiving holes in the base flange of the toilet unit. As the toilet unit is ordinarily of ceramic or equivalent material, it is not feasible to attempt to change the location of the bolt-receiving holes therein, hence the art has adopted the practice of providing arcuate slots of considerable length in the metal coupling flange above referred to, for lateral adjustment of the toilet-retaining bolts. The latter are commonly left loosely suspended in the coupling flange at the time of installation of the outflow pipe (soil pipe), which installation usually occurs many days, or even weeks, in advance of installation of the ceramic toilet fiX-.

ture.

Because of this practice. of allowing the retaining bolts to lie loosely suspended in the arcuate slots of the coupling flange for many days, or weeks, awaiting arrival of the ceramic toilet unit, it frequently happens that during this stand-by period these bolts are jolted or jiggled laterally along their arcuate slots by vibrational impulses set up by hammering operations throughout the building under construction, and upon reaching the wide end of the slot, in the type of fitting heretofore employed, the bolt was free to fall out and was frequently lost, with resultant delay and added expense to replace it before the toilet installation could be completed. Furthermore, even after completion of the job, these retaining bolts had a tendency to turn and 3 Claims. (01. 285-34) thus loosen themselves, particularly where vibration-inducing conditions were present, re-

sulting in insecure mounting and the hazard of unsanitary fluid leakage.

The present invention solves these difficulties by providing a novel flange construction to positively hold the bolts against dropping off the fitting, no matter how much they may dance or jiggle laterally along their arcuate slots during the stand-by period above referred to; said novel construction also acting to prevent vibrationinduced loosening of the bolts at any time after completion of the toilet installation.

In the drawings illustrating my novel construction, Fig. 1 is a top plan View ofv the flange; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on a larger'scale, including also a portion of co-operating parts, the View being taken along line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is 'a horizontal sectional view through one of the retaining bolts.

As shown, the circular anchoring flange has a central tapered seat portion 6 upon which rests the upper rim 7 of the outflow pipe 6, the latter being aligned (when the installation is finally completed) with the outlet opening 9 of the 7 ceramic toilet bowl. The bowl has the usual base flange iii with openings to receive two attaching bolts i I, I2, one for each of the two arcuate slots i3, M, respectively, of the flange. Each bolt H, 12, has a base, or foot, I 5 (see especially Fig. 4) of greater length than width, and adapted to cooperate with two arcuate track elements l6, l7, welded or brazed to under surfaces of the flange.

These track elements, as indicated best in Fig. 2, are at least as extensive as the arcuate slots, therefore the bolts ll, l2, once they have been inserted in the slots (by way of the wider slot ends I9, 20) can not drop out, as their feet l5 are constantly resting on the two tracks or ledges l6, [1, no matter in what position along the slots they may chance to be, and no matter how much they may dance or jiggle during the stand-by period prior to ultimate installation of the toilet unit 9.

It is to be understood, of course, that the flange is secured to a supporting floor board, such as shown at 2| in Fig. 3, by means of other bolts,

not shown, insertible in the drilled holes 22 of in his absence, as has often happened heretofore, due to the absence, in prior art fixtures, of any counterpart of the herein-disclosed tracks l6, l7, and bolt base feature 15.

' Furthermore, due to these same novel features, there is no possiblity of turning of the bolts ll, I2, once they have been installed, hence there can be no loosening thereof at any time after installation of the unit 9.

WhatI claim is:

1. In a circular pipe flange having arcuate slots to receive laterally adjustable bolts for anchorage of an associated unit, correspondingly arcuate means integral with said flangefor holding said bolts against falling out of said slots between the time of installation of the pipe and the subsequent installation of the to beasso-.-

4 each of said arcuate slots, the bolt in each slot being adapted to rest directly on said tracks in every position along said slot including the point of original insertion of the bolt.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein each bolt has a base so shaped, in relation to said track elements, that the bolt is restrained by direct engagement with said track elements from turning to any substantial degree in its slot, either before or after installation of the said associated unit.

CARMINE J. ANGELONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

